Gov. Abbott: Texans are saving lives

By continuing to work together while remaining apart, we will save even more lives.

By continuing to work together while remaining apart, we will save even more lives — and turn more quickly to restarting our resilient economy to help lift every Texas family.

With Texans helping Texans, with Americans helping Americans, we can overcome the challenge we face in conquering the coronavirus outbreak.

I want to thank each and every Texan who is heeding the call to stay home if they can.

Though the cost has been high for families and businesses, and each life lost cuts deeply, we have learned in past disasters that the verse in the book of Romans is true: from suffering comes perseverance, from perseverance comes character, and from character, hope.

I have heard from so many individuals, organizations and community groups who are stepping up, innovating and serving their fellow Texans. I thank you all. I am proud to serve as your governor, and I look forward to shaking your hands once we are victorious in this battle.

I’d also like to thank the great business leaders in Texas who have demonstrated an unmatched commitment to serving their community. From the biggest global brands and Fortune 500s headquartered here in the Lone Star State to so many small businesses and innovative entrepreneurs, we are seeing the incredible can-do spirit of Texas.

Among North Texas businesses responding to meet critical needs, for example: Prestige Ameritech is now producing 2 million face masks a week with 24-hour operations staffed in part by Texas National Guard members, and Insul-Fab retooled an insulation production line to make medical-grade face shields.

Other leading employers who are making a difference across the state include Amazon, Randalls and H-E-B, which are hiring more Texans and increasing hourly wages to ensure you have access to the groceries and supplies you need. H-E-B is also joining Dell, Exxon Mobil, Frost Bank, USAA, Walmart and so many other corporations in donating food and millions in funds to food banks, nonprofits and organizations helping to meet community needs.

Home Depot and NRG are ensuring health care workers and first responders have the safety and emergency equipment needed. AT&T, Comcast, Spectrum, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon are all working to keep Texans and Americans connected. American Airlines is waiving change fees for purchased travel, and Southwest Airlines is offering to transport medical workers to Texas. Valero Energy has retooled ethanol operations to produce hand sanitizer in bulk; Apple is designing and producing face masks; and Walgreens is opening their store lots for drive-through coronavirus testing.

Then there are the unnamed but heroic small business owners who have made hard decisions to do the right thing, to alter their businesses entirely to produce essential foods and protective equipment; to modify their business practices to protect their employees and their customers; and to continue paying employees because they cannot work for reasons beyond their control.

This list of charitable businesses and generous Texans is by no means complete. The entire list would be as big as Texas, but know that I thank you all.

I also want to thank every business that is waiving fees, that has allowed employees to work at home, and that has donated supplies or services through texas.gov.

And I want to thank every Texan who is sewing face masks, checking on their neighbors, teaching their children — and staying home.

We are all in this together. And I remain ever hopeful because of you. We are stronger together, even when apart.

Greg Abbott is the governor of Texas. He wrote this column for The Dallas Morning News.